Why has an ozone hole appeared over the Antarctic when ozone depleting gases are released mainly in the Northern Hemisphere?
South Pole is part of a very large land mass (Antarctic) completely surrounded by ocean. This symmetry affects the meteorological conditions that allow the formation of a very cold region in the stratosphere over the Antarctic during winter. The very low stratospheric temperature in Antarctica lead to the formation of polar stratospheric clouds responsible for chemical changes that promote production of chemically active chlorine and bromide. When there is sunlight in Antarctica during September and October of each year, the activation of chlorine and bromide leads to rapid ozone loss.
Global warming cause changes in climate which may lead to changes in rainfall patterns, a rise in sea level and a wide range of impacts on plants, wildlife, and humans.
Ozone depletion, on the other hand, allows the entry of the sun’s UV-B to reach the earth’s surface. Ozone depletion is not the principal cause of global warming. The heat generated from ozone depleting and global warming are different.
Halons, CFCs, and HCFCs are examples of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) which are also greenhouse gases at the same time. Thus, Halons, CFCs and HCFCs cause ozone depletion and global warming.
Other greenhouse gases include: water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), troposphere ozone (O3), per-fluorinated carbons (PFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).